This is a nostalgic and atmospheric set of interconnected stories, with a strong sense of place and time.

Set in Georgia, while all the stories are not equally interesting, many are enjoyable. The pace of the story telling is a little uneven at times, and some judicious editing might help with that.

Worth checking out if you like the coming-of-age genre, in particular. I do, which is what gets it 3 stars.

This book is ten interconnecting stories, it is a good read but slow at times. It gave me a nostalgic feeling. I felt it all did not come together, but would suggest reading it anyway.

2 Stars

This book was just okay for me. Some of the stories were good but others, not so much. They didn't really come together for me in the end like I think they had planned either.

I got a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, a big thanks to Brody and Malachi Press and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read this arc.

3 stars :)

I thought this was a quick read and kept my attention but at times it felt quite slow. I liked the main character's 'voice', but I think that it was a better decision to keep it a collection of short stories. I saw a review earlier saying that it would be good if it was a longer more complete novel. Although I get where this is coming from, the writing was more of a show-not-tell and although that may have been its target to make it seem more in style of the rest of the plot, it was still wasn't what I was used to. I think because each story was short and easy to get through and there being new things happening quite often is what made it interesting.

Thank you again :)

This collection was reminiscent of The Twilight Zone to me, which is one of my favorites. The writing itself was full of great imagery and kept me engaged for the most part. I’ll say it took me a couple stories to get immersed, but once I got to stories like “Mail Walk”, “Drainage Pipe”, and especially “Truck Stop” I knew I found my type of horror and it checked all of my boxes while reading. Unfortunately, stories like “Blizzard” and “YMCA” felt unfinished and left me wanting to know more, in more of a confused way. While I didn’t feel particularly connected to any characters in this collection, there were standouts such as Grandpa in “New Knife” (and the rest of the collection) and Mary Beth in “Truck Stop”. Of all ten stories, I’d say “Truck Stop” was my favorite. The last story “2006” concluded this collection quite nicely. “1986” captured what it’s like growing up from 80s into the 90s and I enjoyed my experience reading this.

"Ten interconnected stories about a boy growing up in a small town in Georgia, set against the backdrop of the 1980s. From a secret pond nestled in the woods to the fog-shrouded rooftop of an interstate truck stop, to the shadowy corridors of a YMCA basement, familiar landscapes transform into realms of childhood wonder and discovery. Together, these dreamlike and often surreal tales weave a nostalgic meditation on family, home, memory, and time."

You can't get more 80s than a YMCA basement.

There are 10 interconnecting stories in ghe book. They are well written. It was an enjoyable read but nothing memorable. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

I love when a short read stays with you for a long time. This is an important book! Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed this book, but I think I might be being generous with four stars. It was more like 3.5, but rounded up simply because I enjoyed the writing. At times the pace felt a bit dragging, but the descriptions really brought me fully into this so much. Each story was woven in a way that brought each moment into clear focus. Some stories really struck home with me a lot, especially the new knife since I had a similar thing happen when I was very young. It immediately brought all that regret I had barreling back to the surface, and I felt like calling my own dad and apologizing yet again about a necklace. Overall, I did really enjoy it.

1986 is a short but poignant collection of ten interconnected stories that follow a boy growing up in Georgia. At under 100 pages, it’s a quick read, but one that lingers with you due to its quiet, atmospheric prose. The stories don’t always follow a traditional narrative arc—some feel like fleeting moments of adolescence, meandering without clear resolutions. While a few stories didn’t quite resonate, others captured the complexity of growing up in a way that felt real and raw. The final story offers a satisfying sense of closure, rounding out the collection. It’s a thoughtful read that I can appreciate, even if some parts didn’t fully connect with me.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this book!!

I LOVED this book! It was a bit slow in the beginning but then boom I was hooked!! I finished it in one sitting! My first by this author but will not be my last!!

Such a relaxing read, stories like New Knife stand out for their ability to transform mundane moments into reflections of profound wonder and fear. The narrative employs a mix of surreal and stream-of-consciousness elements, inviting readers to immerse themselves in a hazy, memory-driven world. This approach mirrors the fragmented, often messy way we remember our past, making the stories resonate deeply with readers.

Each story revolves around a boy’s experiences with family, friends, and his surroundings, showcasing the universal struggles and discoveries of growing up, it was a fun and easy read and I definitely recommend, especially those born around the 80's.

This Interlocked short collection was a nostalgic, tense ride, with an undercurrent that left me with a sense of foreboding. The setting and characters had me constantly on edge. The writing style was gripping and I enjoyed the easy flow as it came together. The 80s setting was believable and nostalgic in a real and gritty way. I enjoyed this very much and will read more from this author.

Collection of short stories full of
GenX memories of good and dread. We’re the last generation of playing outside and getting into trouble without having it saved for a lifetime online to remind and embarrass you.

Well written and there are some gems here. For the most part, I know they are all connected but they also felt disjointed. Maybe a full-length novel about a child growing up in the 80’s would have made this hit more. There was magic and darkness over some of these stories, which feels right when you’re in the POV of a kid. Overall, it was a good read, and it was short but nothing more to it.

Thank you to NetGgalley and Brody & Malachi Press for the ARC of this book.

I was intrigued by the time period and setting of this book since I spent a portion of my childhood living in Georgia. The idea of the stories being short, interconnected bursts was great. It set a nice atmosphere.

The writing is pretty straight forward but I think it could have benefited from a bit more editing to make it sound a little less "and then, and then" as it goes on. But this book is easy to pick up and put down in short spurts because of its format.

Love the idea, but I'm not sure that this was for me.

this was a great collection of stories and enjoyed that the connection was that it was in the 1980s. Each story worked well with what was going on and had that nostalgic element that I wanted from this. Will Stepp has a strong writing style and was able to create unique characters.

1986 is a quick read; not even a hundred pages. It's a collection of ten interconnected short stories about a boy growing up in Georgia. The writing is quiet, atmospheric, and contemplative. The cover might remind you of Stranger Things, but the decade is the only real similarity. As with all short story collections, some resonate more than others and vice versa. A couple weren't that fun to read. Not that they were bad, just similar to the way that parts of adolescence aren't that fun to experience either. Some stories felt meandering and had no ending; they just were. Like little snippets of a singular moment in this boy's life. The last story jumps ahead a decade and does a good job kind of wrapping it up. Overall, the collection was good and I can admire it for what it was.

Thank you to Brody/Malachi Press and Netgalley for the eARC in exchange for feedback.
Expected pub date is January 2025.

This was a really original collection of short stories that never tried too hard to be interconnected but weaved into one another with common settings or characters as reference points. The tone and sometimes obscurity within the stories really give an authenticity to that strange time between childhood and the self awareness of becoming a teenager. Stepp writes really well and sets a strong tone and sense of place within the 80's and for that, although some of the stories weren't for me, I appreciated the style and prose overall.

I liked this book. It felt very nostalgic and the author captured the weird phase between childhood and adulthood well. The prose was atmospheric and descriptive, and the stories were compelling. I enjoyed the weird and wonderful relationships between the various characters, especially the family members, and the surreal and bizarre aspects of the tales. A great read.